The Early Mail has found El Chico in Race 2 at Doomben in Brisbane. How To Win has returned to the scene of the crime with Essington winning last Saturday at odds of $2.30.

Although not quite meeting all of How To Win’s stringent criteria Frozone in Race 3 at Randwick in Sydney and Essington in Race 7 at Eagle Farm in Brisbane appear good gambles on a difficult winter’s day.

Early Mail assessments for tomorrow have Title in Race 6 at Rosehill in Sydney, Philda at Moonee Valley in Melbourne and Nevzlin in Race 6 at Morphettville in Adelaide on top.  Barring scratchings these assessments are final so unless otherwise advised please also consider these three runners as How To Win’s top-raters for the weekend.

In the first half of this year there have been 15 top-rated recommendations for 7 winners thus providing a strike rate of 46.66%. Based on flat/level stakes investment this provided a profit on turnover of 39.34%. How To Win is therefore on target to almost exactly replicate the successes of last year.

The two top-rated runners remain Grand Nirvana and Media Alert at Belmont in Perth, however, in the event of a wet track (slow or heavy going) How To Win leans towards Media Alert.

Subject to important scratchings How To Win has it down to two, both at Belmont in Perth:  Grand Nirvana in Race 6 and Media Alert in Race 7.

The top-rated runner throughout Australia remains Mantango in Race 4 at  Belmont in Perth. Last Saturday’s top-rater Grand Nirvana provided How To Win with our longest-priced winner for the year thus far thanks to a masterfully timed ride by Daniel Staeck.  Grand Nirvana won at odds of $6.50.

The Early Mail for tomorrow is Mantango in Race 4 at Belmont in Perth.  Please note this will also be the top-rated runner for the weekend.

   The top-rated runner throughout Australia today is Grand Nirvana in Race 7 at Belmont in Perth.

This week’s Early Mail is for Reimbursement in Race 3 at Belmont in Perth.